Canberra businesses welcome China business council to the city

Canberra television production house Wildbear has welcomed a decision by the Australia China Business Council to set up a branch in Canberra, saying anything that cements links with the trading partner is good news for local business.

Wildbear makes television for Chinese and international markets, partnering with the Chinese state television company Central China Television. The production house, like others in Australia and New Zealand, is a useful way into the Chinese market for television companies in the United States and a valuable link for China into the US and European markets.

Wildbear chief executive Michael Tear said the company had most recently made a show about four Australian year 11 teens swapping with four teens from Beijing, and another on the history of World War II from a Chinese viewpoint.

"What the Chinese broadcasters are really interested in is we in Australia have access to other markets they find difficult to penetrate," he said.

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In Asia and particularly China, links at a political and government level were important, giving Canberra businesses a strategic advantage because they were based in the nation's capital, he said.

"There is a kind of diplomatic element to doing business with China so anything that strengthens connections, anything that can increase interaction, anything that can build relationships, that facilitates communication between government and business, I think is an important step," he said.

Mr Tear also welcomed the recent announcement of direct flights to Singapore, another important market for Wildbear because of the number of broadcasters based there.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who leads another delegation to China in April, said Canberra firms should be given every opportunity to do business with one of the biggest markets in the world.

He pointed to increasing Chinese investment interest in real estate, infrastructure, renewable energy, technology and agribusiness sectors. And he said the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement presented major trade and export opportunities.

The Australian China Business Council, which promotes trade and investment with China, already has a branch in every other state and territory.

The council's president, former Victorian premier John Brumby, said Canberra's education institutions, cultural landmarks and reputation for innovation made it a natural economic partner for the "new China".